The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-03-26
Select STORY.
A Detectives Story.

The Moreton Bank was joint stock af-
fair in the North, with several branches.
Each branch was under a separate mana
ger, with high pay, good social position,
and liberty to do very much as he liked,
for the central Board of Directors had great
confidence in their men, and everything
worked very smoothly and successfully.
All the managers were men who had been
from boys in the banks employ, and were
very well paid, and thought much of by
the surrounding gentry.
Well. business was slack, and | was sit
ting in my little office one October day when
my head (and only) clerk showed in a
visitor. This was Mr.. Sherris, solicitor
of good standing in the city, much in favor
yith commercial men. | had had two or
three things before from him.
He was man Of few EuY55s;; and liked
men of the same sort.
STAINING" said he, ''there's a thing in
your line one of my country clients had
consulted me about You, L know, can
keep your tongue between your teeth, or
you'd meyer have had anything from me.
Well, keep 1t closer than eyer, for no one
knows about this affair but my client, you,
me, and-the thief. The Moreton bank
is being robbed How, nobody knows.
That's for you to find out. Here's your
note of introduction to Mr.. Dale, the man
ager, Go as soon as you can. De credit
to my introduction, Good-morning,
Well, 1 was rather glad Of the job, so by
six that evening | was in the town Of
Moreton, a big but dull place, though l
should say there's good deal of cash and
property about.
| saw Mr.. Dale as soon as | could. He
was keen sort of man, with bright eyes,
quick voice, and iron-gray moustache and
beard, oyer City. Wife pretty. and very
nice hammered; no children. They made
me welcome, asked me to take refreshment,
and so on. Mr.. Dale had evidently, like
a sensible man, told no one of my errand,
for on reading the note from Mr.. Sherris
he merely said
$50 you want to be recommended to
some good house property, Mr.. Staining,
for Investment p
said yes, of coupse. He was wise
man. Even your wife will talk to her
maid, and in our line perfect secrecy as to
what our business is is the first thing to be
got, if we mean to make hit.
Well, by and by Mrs. Dale wished us
good night. She was, as | say, very
pretty woman, younger than her husband
by fifteen years, I should think, and they
seemed very fond of each other; but she
wasn't, | should imagine, trusted by him
with many weighty matters, being rather
childish. Yet he wanted some one to help
him, as / saw when the door closed behind
her, and he turned to me with his face full
of worry and perplexity.
Briefly sketched this is what he told me.
Robberies of bank-notes had occurred for
some time. None could be traced. Every
care had been taken, every precaution had
been adhered to. He himself counted and
locked up all his cash, Yet, and at differ
eHt hours, the hotes, with irregular inter
vals between, disappeared. He had, being
well-to-do, replaced them for his monthly
statements to the directors, and being a
proud man aud most sensitive to the
slightest breath furnishing his or the bank
credit, he had not mentioned to any one
not even wife, nephews, or head cashier
these robberies. There was such a system
of personal supervision and control on his
part in the Moreton branch that by little
extra work, appearing nothing unusual, he
Yas able to keep these facts from the
knowledge of any one in the bank-exeept
the thief or thieves.
As for the staff, there were his two
nephews and five other clerks, and an old
head cashier, Mr.. Mitley. His nephews
were cousins, sons of his brother and sister
respectively, named Adolphus Dale and
Hugh Lenton. The clerks were all re-
spectacle and quiet, especially one Mason,
who was considered most excellent young
man.
l Immediately resolved in my own mind
to keep special eye on this young man,
in consequence of his admirable reputation.
As for the notes they were taken one at a
time, and never a larger one than a twenty
five one-mostly smaller ones.
| listened to all Mr. Dales statements
and theories, not that had much faith in
either, but sometimes one may pick up q
grain of sense from mateurs-besides as
they pay the piper, they may, to certain
extent, be allowed to think they call the
tune. But when he'd done talking | felt
this a very difficult business. However,
he made me stay at his house always, as
the gentlemen wanting some houses; and |
slept like top till reused by instinct by